An Archive of Soccer Fan Chants

The impulse to archive isn't restricted to dying languages or ancient relics. Sometimes you archive something simply because you love it. Fanchants.co.uk is a repository of more than 20,000 soccer fan chants from all over the world. It started as a business and remains one - but it's become a labor of love. Bob speaks with Michael Dennis, a co-founder of Fan Chants.

Comments [6]

I have to take exception to a piece you did on last weeks show for two reasons; 1. If, as you stated, we don't have anything similar to chants found in European grounds in America, then you haven't paid attention. The 26 million supporters of some Football club in the US do have chants and unlike our European counterparts we sing in two languages...English and Spanish. As a proud member of the Viking Army (supporters of Red Bull New York), we in section 102 or Red Bull Arena stand and sing throughout ever match, home and away. Our chants borrow melodies from songs like 'Let The Sunshine In' from Hair to 'Call Me' from Blondie as well as loaning well established songs/chants from teams from the Premiership. Note, Seattle, Portland and Chicago have very active Supporter Clubs or Firms and bring the noise in tribute to teams. Secondly, you had the audacity to end the segment with an Arsenal FC song which I found assuming as the chant is Ar sen al, Arsenal FC we are by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen. I take exception to the chant as clearly, as producer must know, this title is reserved for Manchester United. A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes, they deserve to be Knighted.

Correction: In fact the US does have soccer chants and strong, vocal supporters groups for its Major League Soccer teams. The Timbers Army in Portland, a few groups I will not name in Seattle, Section 8 in Chicago, Sons of Ben in Philly, and many more sing and chant for our teams every match. Please correct the ignorant remark made on this program regarding the lack of chants in the US.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDv9PDIFOHg&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHuLrujMFm8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n5wcztdk7M&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmiIcHJm8Tk

You might already be aware of this, but this section of the episode reminded me of the track "Fearless" from Pink Floyd's 1971 album, Meddle. It concludes with a lengthy clip from a Liverpool football game in which the crowd sings the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical Carousel. Apparently it was/is an anthem for the team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCgQuj8v2gg (cross-fade into the crowd begins around 4:35) [http://vimeo.com/36224081 in case Mr. Henderson would care to listen]